There are still a few days to go before Chinese New Year's Eve, and Concubine Yuan's birthday also happens to be at this time.

On the day of Concubine Yuan's birthday, there was no difference between Zhaochun Palace and the past. First, the New Year is approaching, and the concubine's birthday should not be in a big deal; Second, Concubine Yuan doesn't like to be lively by nature, and being calm and quiet is also to her liking.

Xi Yan, as the nephew of Concubine Yuan and the son-in-law of the Xi family, entered the palace on behalf of the Xi family early to celebrate Concubine Yuan's birthday.

At the luncheon, the emperor sat on the top and asked a little strangely: "Concubine Yuan, your birthday is also a big event, why didn't you see An Sile among the people who came to Si Le Mansion today?" ”

Concubine Xi Ningshuang sat beside the emperor, and while giving the emperor vegetables, she said slowly: "Maybe it's not all right." The concubine heard that a few days ago, Jing Zhaoyi punished An Sile for kneeling for something, and she knelt for a long time. ”

The emperor nodded, "Jing Zhaoyi's temperament must be trivial things. Forget it, let her go. Let Ansler take care of it. ”

Concubine Yuan smiled, and then stopped talking.

Xi Yan raised the wine bottle and showed his wishes to Concubine Yuan, "Today is my aunt's birthday, I wish my aunt good luck and happiness, like brocade." I also wish me a great Zhao River, Qinghai Yan, and a prosperous time. ”

After that, Xi Yan drank all the wine in the bottle.

Concubine Yuan was very relieved and said: "I haven't seen you for many years, Yan'er is still so good at talking." ”

Xi Yan is very modest: "My aunt has won the award, and my nephew is dull, so I don't deserve my aunt's praise." ”

But the emperor opened his mouth at this time and asked, "Xi Yan is twenty-three this year, right?" ”

Concubine Yuan looked at the emperor with a smile, "Your Majesty has a good memory, Xi Yan is indeed twenty-three this year." ”

The emperor smiled and said: "I don't remember that in the year I gave birth to him, it was snowing heavily in Chongdu City, and his mother had a difficult birth, so she still invited the imperial doctor from the palace to give birth smoothly." When he was a child, he often went into the harem to accompany you. Alas... In the blink of an eye, they were all so big. ”

Xi Yan said with some shame: "Your Majesty still remembers the events of my childhood." ”

"yes, it's been years. Where do you live now? ”

Xi Yan responded humbly: "The minister has just been appointed as the lieutenant of Xiajin, and he will be appointed soon." ”

The emperor seemed to be a little puzzled, "Xiajin is remote, and you have been crowned for three years, so it stands to reason that you should not go to such a bitter cold place." ”

Xi Yan smiled faintly, and lowered his head slightly very modestly, "As a citizen of Da Zhao, the minister naturally wants to dedicate this body to Da Zhao." Although Shimotsu is remote, there must always be someone to guard it. ”

The emperor let out an "um" and couldn't help nodding, "That's right. The northwest has always been the place where my big Zhao soldiers are prepared, but... A few days ago, a group of officials were disposed of for greed for ink, do you know this? ”

Xi Yan thought for a while, and said: "This matter shocked the government and the opposition, and the ministers also heard about it. ”

"Yes," the emperor sighed as if his face was worried, "a case of embezzlement of ink will involve nearly a hundred officials in the northwest. If you look it up any further... In the end, I didn't find out about the inner city of Chongdu! ”

"Your Majesty is angry." Xi spoke in a calm tone, and persuaded him with good words: "Jing Yuan's reform in the Northwest Army over the years has been very effective. ”

"Well," the emperor's expression softened when he heard this, "This Jing Yuan is three years younger than your brother Huan Guohou, but it's still reassuring to do things." ”

"Yes," Xi Yan deliberately echoed: "Although Jing Yuan has only served in the northwest for two years, he can be regarded as prestigious in the army, and even the people of the people admire him very much. ”

"Admiration?" The emperor's already soft face began to be cloudy again, "He is really good at doing things, the people are subservient, and there is his father behind him..."

Seeing the emperor like this, Xi Yan still said very modestly: "The minister said the wrong thing." ”

"No," the Emperor waved his hand very dryly, "you don't, and you're quite right. A few days ago, he was summoned to report on his work, and he still wanted to go back to the northwest to make meritorious deeds. Now I don't plan to let him go, but you're going to the northwest again in the next year, behind you... I have a father, too. ”

The fleeting cold glint in the emperor's eyes was captured by Xi Yan, he got up and bowed his hand, and said slowly: "Behind the minister is Your Majesty." ”

The emperor looked at Xi Yan suspiciously, and said after a while: "That's it, today is the birthday of Concubine Yuan, and you shouldn't be talking about political affairs, you sit down." ”

Xi Yan sat down with the order, still with a faint smile on his face.

The emperor looked at Concubine Yuan's slightly simple palace, and was a little excited, "The banquet is not without pleasure, let's invite An Silo here." Even if you can't dance, it's good to have fun. ”

"Yes." The emperor's personal eunuch took the order and left.

Seeing An Ruofei again soon, Xi Yan's heart couldn't help but throb, and there were some waves in his eyes. He hurriedly lowered his head and took a sip of wine.

……

When An Ruofei came to Zhaochun Palace, he raised his eyes and saw Xi Yan sitting in the hall.

Although he was prepared, the moment he really saw Xi Yan, An Ruofei was still in a trance.

"Minister, Si Le Fu Si Le, see Your Majesty, Niangniang. May Your Majesty be in good faith, and wish her good luck and good health. ”

"Get up."

An Ruofei blessed her body, turned around and sat in front of the piano, "Today is Niangniang's birthday, I don't know what Your Majesty and Niangniang want to hear?" ”

The emperor looked at Concubine Yuan, and then said: "Since it is Concubine Yuan's birthday, it should be chosen by Concubine Yuan." ”

Concubine Yuan was very easy-going, "Then ask Si Le to pick a lighter tune to play." ”

"Yes." An Ruofei saluted again, "Then please Yunchen play a song "Fisherman's Q&A" for Your Majesty and Niangniang." ”

"Very good." Concubine Yuan heard this song and looked at An Ruofei with interest, "But Xiao Luan's score?" ”

"Yes."

An Ruofei's fingers fell on the strings, and the murmuring sound of the piano slowly poured out. The sound of the piano is unhurried and falls into the ears, which only makes people feel refreshed.

Concubine Yuan closed her eyes and listened, and praised: "The mountains are majestic, and the water is oceanic; The dingding of the felling and the swaying of the oars are all faintly visible under the fingers. It seems that Si Le is not only a must, but also a perfect piano. ”

"The mother praises falsely, and the ministers dare not be ashamed."

The emperor also smiled and nodded, "I think it's still deserved, this song "Fisherman's Q&A" has quite high requirements for the performers, requiring no distractions, and you have basically done it." Xi Yan, what do you think? ”

Xi Yan smiled modestly, "The minister is a layman, and he can't compare to His Majesty and Aunt who can say so many things." It's just that... This piano is really good. ”

"Hahahahahaha..."The emperor pointed his fingers and smiled teasingly, "This "Fisherman's Q&A" is a hermit's work of sending love to the landscape. The wise are happy with the water, and the benevolent are happy with the mountain. Are you wise or benevolent...? ”

Xi Yan arched his hand and said: "The minister is stupid, and the minister is neither wise nor benevolent." I only wish to be able to serve Your Majesty and one day become a wise man. ”

"Good. I will be impressed by the wise man. ”

……

When he left the palace, Xi Yan felt a little emotional in his heart, "This Chongdu is about to have a place for me..."

"Lord Xi."

Xi Yan turned around, but saw An Ruofei trotting all the way, although he was puzzled, he still stopped and waited.

"Yanjun, wait."

When he arrived at Xi Yan's side, An Ruofei's breath was already a little unstable.

Seeing that there was no one around, she whispered: "Yanjun, I have something I don't understand. You obviously know the rhythm very well, and you also have a lot of insights into "Fisherman's Q&A". When Fang was in Zhaochun Palace, why did he pretend not to understand? ”

Xi Yan smiled lightly and said clearly: "To be a man... Especially as a courtier, you must know how to leave blank. Before you came, I had already shown my talents in front of Your Majesty, and if you were to make a big splash in Yale again, Your Majesty would be displeased. ”

"Why?"

Xi Yan looked at her gently, "Your Majesty has princes of the same age as me, and when he sees me, he will inevitably compare me with other princes in his heart." What would he think if he found out that I had the upper hand? If Your Majesty is jealous, it will be a good thing for me... Or is it a bad thing? ”

An Ruofei is also a smart person, and he understands it at one point, "I understand, everyone knows what is useful, but what is useless." It is better to use the useless use to be the most useful. Yan Jun, you show your useful uses, and you also want to hide yourself among ordinary courtiers, right? ”

"The same can be said." Xi Yan recalled what the emperor had just said, and chuckled: "Besides, the benevolent... Wise man, Your Majesty thinks that he is benevolent, who else dares to be benevolent in front of His Majesty? Your Majesty, when he knows that I have a utilitarian heart, he will definitely use me. ”

"It turns out that there is another reason for this."

……

As he spoke, the palace gate was close in front of him.

Looking at the high palace gate, An Ruofei saluted Xi Yan and said, "There are many people in front, and it is inconvenient for me to go all the way with Yan Jun, so I will say goodbye first." ”

Xi Yan bowed his head in return, and watched An Ruofei slowly walk away.